Support structure for inflated tubes in collapsible boats



Aug. 21, 1962 A. ERTL EI'AL 3,049,731

SUPPORT STRUCTURE FOR INFLATED TUBES IN COLLAPSIBLE BOATS Filed Aug. 12, 1958 INVENTORS Alfred .Ert]

Benz flzzzmanrz ATTORNEY 3,949,731 Patented Aug. 21, 1962 3,049,731 SUPPORT STRUCTURE FOR INELATED TUBES TN COLLAPSIBLE BOATS Alfred Ertl, Kolbermoor, near Rnsenheim, and Franz Hermann, Rosenheim-Erienau, Germany, assignors to Firma Klepper-Werke, Rosenheim, Bavaria, Germany Filed Aug. 12, 1958, Ser. No. 754,570 Ciaims priority, application Germany Sept. 7, 1957 4 Claims. (Cl. 92)

This invention relates to collapsible boat structures and particularly concerns a means for protecting inflated air tubes in a collapsible boat and for securing such means to the boat structure.

Normally, the air tubes of collapsible boats are disposed in pockets in the body of the boat. These pockets are formed by walls which must be properly joined to the deck or hull of the boat. When the tubes are inflated, they frequently tear open the joints of the pockets. Another objectionable condition is the great expense and labor involved in making secure joints. A further objection is that the tubes after inflation lie unprotected in the body of the boat where they are subject to abrasion and accidental puncture.

An object of the present invention is to provide inflated air tubes in a collapsible boat, the tubes being secured between a skin and frame of the boat by means of flexible retaining means secured to an inner side of a deck skin above the tubes, the retaining means consisting of tubular coverings or envelopes formed from rectangular sheets, the longitudinal edges of which are overlapped and secured together to the deck skin.

Another object is to provide envelopes for air tubes in a collapsible boat, the envelopes being provided with lateral slots through which the tubes can be inserted.

A still further object is to provide envelopes of the character described wherein the slots are closable by sliding fasteners.

The invention will be best understood from the drawing in which:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view, in vertical transverse medial section, of a preferred embodiment of the invention,

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view in section, taken on line 22 of FIGURE 1, and

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragnentary side elevational view in section, taken on line 33 of FIGURE 1.

Referring to the drawing, there is shown a boat having a collapsible frame. Such a boat includes a plurality of longitudinally spaced U-shaped ribs 11 of which one rib is shown in the drawing. The ribs have firee ends overhanging the bights of the ribs to provide supports for a strong canvas sheet 5. Opposite marginal portions of the sheet 5 are secured to the free ends of the ribs to form deck skin portions 5. These portions are continuous with a central portion extending under the frame to form a hull skin portion 4. Disposed in spaces '7 between side walls of the ribs 11 and sides of the hull skin portion 4 and extending longitudinally in substantial parallelism at opposite sides of the frame are two infiated air tubes 1 and 2. These tubes are supported by tubular coverings or envelopes 9 formed from rectangular sheets of suitable resilient material. The longitudinal edges of each envelope are juxtaposed and secured to the deck skin 5 at each side of the boat by stitches it The tubes 1 and 2 are thus completely enveloped and protected against abrasion and puncture by reason of the double wall structure provided by the envelope and the tube.

When the tubes 1 and 2 are properly inflated, they tension the hull portion 4 of the skin 5 around the underside of the boat between the deck portions 5' of the skin 5. Spars 3 on side walls of the ribs may be provided to space the enveloped tubes from the ribs 11.

The overlapped longitudinal edges of the envelopes may be stitched at 10 to the canvas material of the deck skin portions 5'. Only a single strong longitudinal seam is required to secure each envelope which effects a simplification in the fabrication of the pocket provided for containing each tube. Cementing or other mechanical joining is not required. Inflation of the tubes will not loosen the strong seam.

The envelopes may be provided with lateral slots through which the tubes 1 and 2 can be inserted prior to inflation. Slide fasteners 12 may be provided as closures for the slots.

We claim:

1. 111 a boat having a rigid but collapsible frame, said frame including longitudinally spaced U-shaped ribs having inwardly turned free ends, and a canvas sheet covering the underside of said frame to define a hull skin portion and having opposite margins secured on the free ends of the ribs to define lateral deck skin portions, the combination comprising a pair of inflated air tubes disposed in spaces between the hull skin portion and sides of said ribs and extending longitudinally substantially parallel to each other, and a pair of protective coverings enveloping the respective tubes, each covering being formed from a rectangular piece of flexible material having longitudinal edges overlapped and secured to said deck skin by a single longitudinal seam.

2. The combination according to claim 1, wherein said seam is formed by a line of strong stitching.

3. The combination according to claim 1, wherein each of said coverings has a lateral slot for insertion of one of the tubes therein.

4. The combination according to claim 3, further comprising a slide fastener for closing said slot.

References (Iited in the flle of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,333,109 Ford Mar. 9, 1920 2,154,040 Frisendahl Apr. 11, 1939 2,156,175 Brown Apr. 25, 1939 2,338,976 Schutte Jan. 11, 1944 2,396,212 Spanel Mar. 5, 1946 2,642,590 Hermann June 23, 1953 2,739, 21 LaColette Mar. 27, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 568,444 Great Britain Apr. 5, 1945 991,326 France Oct. 4, 1951 969,796 Germany Aug. 7, 1958 

